When to Plant Curry Leaf in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide
What this month normally looks like in Warm Temperate
In October the Warm Temperate zone normally runs 24°C by day and 13°C overnight, with about 66 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -1.5°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 153 postcodes, SILO.
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This Curry Leaf guide is written for the Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Oct to Feb
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
Curry leaf is an evergreen tropical tree grown for its fragrant leaves. It likes warmth, sun and free draining soil.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Warm Temperate
- Jan T
- Feb T
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct T
- Nov T
- Dec T
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Curry Leaf in Warm Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Free draining soil enriched with well rotted compost (Guildford Garden Centre). Adapts to most soils if well drained (Garden Express).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade (Garden Express). A sunny to semi shaded spot (Guildford Garden Centre).
Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Curry Leaf
Recommended Varieties
- Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii)
Key Challenges
- Frost when young
- Winter leaf drop
Pro Tips
- Plant against a north facing wall
- Mulch the root zone
Pests and problems for Curry Leaf in Warm Temperate
Harvesting Curry Leaf
When ready: Pick leaves while they are green and full of flavour (Garden Express).
How to harvest: Pick leaves as needed. They do not keep well, so avoid storing them (Guildford Garden Centre).
Storing and preserving curry leaf
How to keep it
- Freezing. Freeze whole leaves (Garden Express).
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Curry Leaf
When do you plant curry leaf in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Feb, Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Dec
Can you grow curry leaf all year round in Sydney?
No. In the Warm Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, Oct to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Curry Leaf in Sydney?
Daleys lists warm temperate as a preferred climate, with frost tolerance rated 'Sometimes'. Young trees are very frost sensitive, so plant in the warmer months in a sheltered, north facing spot (Guildford Garden Centre). Leaf drop in winter is normal.
How do I know when Curry Leaf are ready to harvest?
Pick leaves while they are green and full of flavour (Garden Express).
What are the best Curry Leaf varieties for Sydney?
Recommended varieties for the Warm Temperate zone include: Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii).
Are curry leaf salt tolerant?
Only a little. Curry leaf are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.